Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-08-29
CLEvELAND'S PORTRAIT
Displayed on a Banner Under which the
Grand Army Posts of Wheeling, He.
fuse to March During the Parade in
that Place on Friday.
New YORK. Aug. 27,

New YORK. Aug. 81.
special to the Sun from Wheeling, w.
Va, says of the unpleasantness attending the
Grand Army parade, Yesterday: Editor Ia.
ney of the Daily Register, threw across Mar
ket street IL by "a foot banner, bearing q
mammoth portrait Of President Cleveland,
above and below the picture bearing the in
scription, God bless our President, COM
mander in chief of our army and navy"
The appearance of the banner created some
feeling among the G. A. R. men when it was
first placed in position.
| This feeling was deepened by an article in
Friday mornings Pittsburg Dispatch, which
referred to the fire-eating qualities of Editor
Taney, and his willingness to see his entire
| office wrecked before he would remove the
banner. The article further said that few
of the more hot headed members of the G.
A. X. had expressed the determination of
tearing the banner, or in the event of its re.
naming up, they would refuse to march un-
der it.
This article created great excitement among
the q. A. r. of Pittsburg, and when about
two thousand veterans boarded the cars in
that city there was deep-seated conviction
that something should be done to publicly
show their feeling, and on arriving in Wheel
ing it was decided that the big banner should
| be lodged.
| When the head of the first division, com.
posed of Pennsylvania veterans, reached the
Register office, Post No. Al, which led the
advance, went squarely under the flag. The
posts were crowded into the gutter to avoid
passing under the banner, and either dropped
their colors or trailed them along the ground
as they passed by.
| As organization after organization went by
in this manner the excitement in the great
| throng of spectators became intense. Cheers
and groans were alternately given, and curses
and epthets were hurled at the picture bv
the crowd.
| Meanwhile the news OF what was going on
was spread far and wide, and the democrats
| in that portion of the city began to make
their way TO the scene. The street was soon
blockaded with an excited mob and things
began to wear serious aspect. Democratic
members of the g. A. r. began to tear of
their badges and leave the ranks, while many
| officers of the marching posts hurried to and
fro, urging their men over to the side of the
street and commanding the flags to be trsiled
| on the ground.
The excitement reached its height when
Encampment No l, of the Union Veteran
Legion of Pittsburg came up. The crowd
had filled all the breadth of the street for a
square either way, leaving but narrow lane
along one curb for the column. The legion,
two hundred and fifty strong. struck bee
line down the center of the street, the officers
in front clearing the way. As they passed
under the Cleveland banner with upright
flag stats, many of the members took off
their bats and saluted.
In moment pandemonium was let loose.
The G. A. r. men filed the air with Kisses
and groaus. The democrats cheered until
they were hoarse, while threats ofS violence
were freely interchanged. During the re-
mainder of the day the excitement was very
great and threats to tear down the banner
were made on every hand.
At great mass meeting of twenty thou
sand people, which Immediately followed the
parade, an attempt was made to smooth over
the matter. Gov Foraker of Ohio, said be
honored the sentiment expressed on the BAN
ner and hoped that all would concur in it.
This, however, did nothing to allay the pre-
vailing excitement.